WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence: Forty-seventh report

Overview

The Forty-seventh Meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) was convened from 14 to 18 October 2024 and was coordinated from the WHO headquarters in Geneva. The Forty-seventh WHO ECDD critically reviewed seven new psychoactive substances, comprising one synthetic cannabinoid (hexahydrocannabinol), four novel synthetic opioids (protonitazepyne, metonitazepyne, etonitazepipne, N-desethyl isotonitazene), one dissociative-type substance (3-hydroxyphencyclidine) and one cathinone/stimulant (N-ethylheptedrone). It also reviewed the medicine carisoprodol. A critical review was undertaken of data on the use of each substance and its effects, so that the Expert Committee could determine whether the information available on these substances justified scheduling in the 1961 or 1971 Convention. This report summarizes the findings of the Forty-seventh ECDD meeting.